Method of preparation and composition of a water soluble extract of the plant species uncaria for enhancing immune, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and DNA repair processes of warm blooded animals

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of preparation and the composition of a water soluble extract of the plant species Uncaria. The present invention is also directed to the pharmaceutical use of the composition for the enhancement of the immune, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and DNA repair processes of warm blooded animals. The present preparation of the water soluble extract of the plant species Uncaria results in the depletion of many of the ingredients which lead to various toxic side effects associated with other extracts or compositions derived from Uncaria. Also, the present preparation leads to the depletion of many of the active ingredients commonly associated with other extracts and compositions of the plant species Uncaria. Therefore, the present invention teaches that the hot water extraction of the crude plant parts of Uncaria and the subsequent dialysis of the solubilized products yields a low molecular weight composition which maintains a high degree of the anti-tumor, inflammatory and immune stimulatory activities associated with the crude plant parts.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for enhancing the DNA repair process of a mammal, comprising administering an amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a water soluble extract of an Uncaria species, wherein said extract exhibits UV maxima at approximately 199 nm, is stable to temperatures less than 100° C. for 24 hours and sterilization by autoclaving for up to at least 20 minutes at approximately 121° C., maintains biological activity for at least 6 months when frozen in liquid form at approximately −20° C. and consists essentially of molecules having a molecular weight of up to approximately 12,000; and a nontoxic inert carrier or diluent, said carrier or diluent selected from the group consisting of wheat starch and sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of administering said pharmaceutical composition is to treat mammals afflicted with disorders associated with said DNA repair process. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of administering said pharmaceutical composition comprises administering said composition orally in a form selected from the group consisting of capsules, tablets, syrups, and liquids. 
     
     
       4. A method for enhancing the DNA repair process of a human via supplementation with a water soluble extract of an Uncaria species, comprising administering an amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a water soluble extract of an Uncaria species, wherein said extract exhibits UV maxima at approximately 199 nm, is stable to temperatures less than 100° C. for 24 hours and sterilization by autoclaving for up to at least 20 minutes at approximately 121° C., maintains biological activity for at least 6 months when frozen in liquid form at approximately −20° C. and consists essentially of molecules having a molecular weight of up to approximately 12,000; and a nontoxic inert carrier or diluent, said carrier or diluent selected from the group consisting of wheat starch and sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of administering said pharmaceutical composition is to treat humans afflicted with disorders associated with said DNA repair process. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the step of administering said pharmaceutical composition comprises administering said composition orally in a form selected from the group consisting of capsules, tablets, syrups and liquids.